The Zeller Eisbären react to Nick Huard’s injury and sign Slovenian national team player and long-time ICE Hockey League crack Blaz Tomazevic!
Blaz Tomazevic was already on the Zeller Eisbären’s watch list last transfer summer. The 1.81 meter tall right-handed shooter impresses with his game intelligence and brings a lot of ICE Hockey League experience to Pinzgau. In the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, the Slovenian national team player played as an import for Villacher SV (98 games, 15 goals, 36 assists). Last season, the creative, top ice skater was under contract with Olimpija Ljubljana, also in the ICEHL. (35 games, 4 goals, 4 assists) The energetic forward can cover the screen excellently and also has a strong percentage at the face-off point, which means that Tomazevic will fit perfectly into the Zeller Eisbären system.
Blaz initially signed a contract until mid-November, after which those responsible for the sport will make a decision together with the player regarding further cooperation.
The program in October and November is very tight. With the decision to sign Blaz, the Polar Bears want to give Nick Huard the time to fully recover from his lower body injury.
STATEMENTS
Neo polar bear Blaz Tomazevic: “When the people in charge of the Zeller Eisbären contacted me, I didn’t have to think twice. I heard a lot of good things about the team and the organization and it wasn’t a difficult decision for me to join you. We all know that you were Alps Hockey League champions last season, so I believe this year our goal is to achieve the same. Most importantly, we focus on doing our best in every game and always trying to win.”
Polar Bears GF Patrick Schwarz: “We are pleased to have found a suitable short-term solution for our current situation with Blaž Tomaževič. With Blaž we have a strong, intelligent striker who joins us, who also has strong qualities at the face-off point. The Slovenian mentality and way of working fit our team perfectly. In a few weeks we will reassess the situation together.”
Eisbären head coach Marcel Rodman: “We’ve had a big shortage of players over the last ten days, so we’ve decided to sign Blaz for the coming weeks. I’ve known Blaz Tomazevic for a long time and know exactly what type of player and character he is. I think he will give us the stability and depth that we lost with Nick’s injury. He’s a different player than Nick, but I think he’ll fit in very well with the team. Blaz is a good skater, protects the puck a lot good and is a very good playmaker who can play both in the center and on the wing.
CAREER
Blaz was born in Jesenice in 1997. At the Stahlstadt team he went through the entire youth department. He made his professional debut for Jesenice in the Alps Hockey League in the 2016/17 season. Since then he has played 215 Alps Hockey League games in which he has scored 46 goals and 117 assists. In 2021/22, Tomazevic moved to the Dragons in Ljubljana in the ICE Hockey League before moving on to Villach one season later. He returned to the Slovenian capital last season. In total, “Tomo,” as his teammates call out, played 186 Ice Hockey League games with 32 goals and 57 assists. 5 Slovenian championships, as well as 4 Slovenian cup successes, a total of 86 national team appearances, crowned with winning the D1A 2021/22, as well as participation in the A World Championship 2022/23 are among the greatest successes of the likeable Slovenian.
Tomazevic will wear number #11 in Zell am See and, if everything goes well with the registration, will make his debut on Thursday against the Red Bulls Hockey Juniors.
ek-zellereisbaeren.at , Image: VSV/Krammer
